Cleansing oils, your new beauty ally

Purifying milk and micellar water have become part of our daily beauty routine. Well, now it's time for cleansing oils to do the same. Why? Who should use them and how? Read on for the answers to these and other beautiful questions.

A QUESTION OF BALANCE

Washing your face with oil can sound like a strange idea. After all, isn't the whole idea of washing to get rid of excess oils and impurities? Turns out, the truth of the matter is only skin deep. Thanks to its emollient properties, oil is quite effective at dislodging dead skin cells and dirt, eliminating oxidized sebum that accumulates on the face and dissolving fatty substances found in makeup. Better still, contrary to soap-based cleansers, oils don't strip away the sebum. Instead, they help balance out the natural oils your skin needs to keep its softness and radiance.

Cleansing oils have a number of advantages:

They're highly effective at removing makeup from the face and eyes... so watch out, waterproof products, there's a new cleanser in town!

They nourish, moisturize and purify the skin deeply.

They control the production of sebum, which can lead to greasy skin and imperfections.

GOOD HABITS

How should you use cleansing oils? Easy: just pour a little into the cup of your (clean) hand, then warm the oil by rubbing your hands together. Apply the oil to your entire face by massaging it gently using circular motions, then create an emulsion using water. Rinse thoroughly and dab your face dry with a clean towel. That's it!

Does your product have a funny texture? Don't worry. Many cleansing oils become milky when they're combined with water. It's part of what makes them so comforting to use and it also keeps them from clogging up your pores or leaving a greasy film on your skin.

AN OIL FOR EVERY TYPE OF SKIN

Cleansing oil is compatible with all types of skin. You simply have to find the one that's right for you.

Dry skin has fewer natural emollients, so it requires cleansing oils that are rich and nourishing, filled with the lipids it needs to protect itself against daily wear and tear.

Oily or mixed-type skins, which already have fairly high lipid production, need cleansing oils that are easily rinsed off without leaving any residue. Choose water-soluble oils rich in amino acids that help control the production of sebum.

Sensitive skin requires soothing, non-irritating ingredients, so avoid perfumed cleansing oils or those with high concentrations of essential oils. You might also want to consider non-foaming products rich in omega acids.